Girls Hoop Playoff Picture

NOTE: Here's the most recent look at the Playoff Picture. There may be a record or two that's off. If so, shoot me an email at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com. ... Walker will be posted late Sunday night.

Division 1
QUALIFIED:
Amherst (15-1), Holyoke (13-2), Longmeadow (12-4), Pittsfield (11-7), West Springfield (14-1)
ON THE BUBBLE: Chicopee Comp (7-8), East Longmeadow (8-8), Northampton (9-7)
OUT: Agawam (5-11), Central (5-11), Chicopee (1-13), Ludlow (2-12), Minnechaug (4-12), Sci-Tech (0-15), Westfield (4-12)
OUTLOOK: I expect all three bubble teams to get in, as Comp and East Longmeadow each have enough winnable games left, although EL's remaining schedule is probably a little tougher. Northampton should win at least two of its last four. Things will get interesting down the stretch as far as seeding, as Amherst will have played two Division 2 teams this season and West Springfield will have played one. If they both win out (certainly not a given for either), my best guess is that West Side would get the No. 1 seed despite having lost to Amherst.

Division 2
QUALIFIED:
Athol (13-4), Belchertown (12-4), Cathedral (10-6), Drury (12-5), Frontier Regional (15-1), Hampshire Regional (15-2), Hoosac Valley (12-7), Mahar Regional (12-5), Monument Mountain (10-5), Wahconah (13-4), South Hadley (11-6)
ON THE BUBBLE: Easthampton (6-12 actually, 6-10 officially), Mount Greylock (6-10), Palmer (8-7), Southwick (6-11)
OUT: Commerce (4-12), Mohawk Trail (1-15), Taconic (4-12)
OUTLOOK: Eagles must win out against four potential tournament teams (Hopkins, Athol, Pioneer, Monson). Greylock and Southwick aren't in as bad shape as their overall record would indicate, as both are very much in the hunt for a top-two spot in their respective divisions. Palmer, meanwhile, has one game against Commerce that I assume it will be win, but still must pick up at least one victory in four very tough games (Cathedral, Monson, Belchertown, Hampshire).

Division 3
QUALIFIED: Gateway Regional (15-2), Holyoke Catholic (8-10), Lee (14-0), Lenox (10-8), Monson (10-5), Sabis (17-1), Ware (11-5), Westfield Voke (10-5)
ON THE BUBBLE: Franklin Tech (6-7), Granby (9-9), Hopkins Academy (9-7), McCann Tech (5-12), New Leadership (8-7), Pathfinder (7-6), Pioneer Regional (8-9), Putnam (3-12),  St. Mary (4-8), Smith Academy (9-8)
OUT: Dean Tech (1-9), Greenfield (2-14), Mount Everett (3-10), Pioneer Christian (3-13), St. Joseph's (2-11), Smith Voke (3-11), Turners Falls (1-14),
OUTLOOK: It's a massive bubble at the the moment and a handful of teams will move off it one way or another over the next week. Granby has been playing really well, but a slow start and a tough schedule have the Rams in tough shape. They are at South Hadley on Monday and then host Ware on Feb. 21. Have to win one of them and lost to both teams in close games early this season. Hopkins moved close to qualifying by winning three of its last four, including a nice win over Pioneer in a key game between two bubble teams. They've got plenty of chances to get into the postseason in their final four games. Rival Smith, meanwhile, has as many wins, but a much tougher remaining schedule. The Falcons survived a massive score at Mohawk on Thursday that would have virtually been an elmination game. Now they need one win with Athol, Mahar and Hopkins. The good news: They did beat Hopkins the first time around. McCann and Putnam are both alive for a shot at an automatic qualifier in their league.

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